Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of reintroducing VAT-free shopping for overseas visitors.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has no plans to introduce a new tax-free shopping scheme in Great Britain. Visitors to Great Britain can continue to claim VAT relief where the items purchased are shipped directly to their home country as exports.

In March 2024, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) conducted a review of the previous Government’s 2020 costing of removing tax-free shopping. The OBR’s updated estimate is that the withdrawal of the VAT Retail Export Scheme will save the Exchequer around £540 million per year by 2025-26. Reintroducing tax-free shopping would therefore likely come at significant cost to the Exchequer.
 
The Government has also noted recent ONS data, which shows that tourism numbers and spending for the UK has recovered at a similar rate following the pandemic to other European economies that offer tax-free shopping.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Transport for London regarding the implementation, including timescale, of requiring the licensing of pedicabs.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Transport for London (TfL) are currently preparing to consult on their plans to regulate London’s pedicab industry. Department for Transport officials regularly meet with their counterparts at TfL on this matter, who have indicated that this consultation process will now begin in early 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what impact assessments they have made of the proposal for a Mayoral Development Corporation to pedestrianise Oxford Street, and what discussions they have had with Westminster City Council on this topic.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Responsibility for designating any area of land in Greater London as a Mayoral development area rests with the Mayor of London. Any future proposal for Oxford Street will be subject to a statutory consultation in line with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011. The government remains supportive of locally-led plans to revitalise Oxford Street and looks forward to working with the Mayor of London and local leaders to ensure Oxford Street remains a world-class retail destination.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact that the increase in national insurance will have on local councils and their services.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer to Question UIN 11851 on 8 November 2024.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of enhancing police presence and protection around Grade I listed buildings such as Westminster Cathedral.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Decisions about police resourcing are a matter for operationally independent Chief Constables and directly elected local policing bodies, such as Police and Crime Commissioners and Mayors exercising PCC functions.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking (1) to prevent the closures of, and (2) to support the opening of, Post Offices across London.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Government provides an annual £50m Network Subsidy funding to support the delivery of a minimum number of branches and a geographical spread of branches in line with published access criteria. The Government uplifted the subsidy in FY 24/25 by £37.5 million to further support the Post Office network and the important services it provides. The access criteria ensure that however the network changes, Post Office delivers essential services across the UK via its network of 11,500 branches. The access criteria will ensure that, across London, 99% of the population will continue to live within 3 miles of a Post Office.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will issue local authorities multi-year settlements to enable them to plan more efficiently and secure their long-term future.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

We are committed to providing a multi-year funding settlement starting in 2026-27. This will be the first multi-year settlement since 2016 and will provide local authorities with the certainty they need to focus on their priorities.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what support is available to landlords who are subject to additional costs imposed by councils under the selective licensing schemes.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Local authorities are responsible for assessing the impact of a selective licensing scheme on their area. This may include the impact of licence fees on local rents.

Local authorities have discretion to charge fees which cover the cost of running selective licensing schemes. They may also offer discounts on fees to reduce costs for landlords. The government expects local authorities to make details of these fees, along with the rationale behind their determination, transparent and readily accessible.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of introducing selective licensing on the cost of renting.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Local authorities are responsible for assessing the impact of a selective licensing scheme on their area. This may include the impact of licence fees on local rents.

Local authorities have discretion to charge fees which cover the cost of running selective licensing schemes. They may also offer discounts on fees to reduce costs for landlords. The government expects local authorities to make details of these fees, along with the rationale behind their determination, transparent and readily accessible.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of landlords leaving the private rental market on the rate of homelessness across London.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The most recent English Housing Survey results, published on 28 November 2024, show that proportion of private rented sector (PRS) households in London which are part of the private rental market has increased from 27.4% in 2018-19 to 31.8% in 2023-24. Over the past 5 years data on dwelling stock shows that there has been an increase in the number of PRS properties in London. Live tables on dwelling stock (including vacants) - GOV.UK

Our Renters’ Rights Bill will deliver our manifesto commitment to transform the experience of private renting, including by ending Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions. The most recent homelessness statistics release reported between April and June 2024, 1,100 Londoners were put at risk of homelessness because they received a Section 21 eviction notice. By implementing the long overdue abolition of Section 21 evictions, this government will give renters much greater security and stability so they can stay in their homes for longer, build lives in their communities, and avoid the risk of homelessness.

However, homelessness levels in London and across the country remain far too high. This is why the government has committed to developing a new cross government strategy, working with mayors and councils across the country to get us back on track to ending homelessness once and for all. This includes a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, bringing together ministers from across government.

Found: Belt Declarations of interest Baroness Andrews No relevant interests to declare Lord Bailey of Paddington

Found: Wednesday 18 December 2024 4.30 pm Watch the meeting Members present: Lord Moylan (The Chair); Lord Bailey of Paddington

Found: Letter dated 19/12/2024 from Baroness Twycross to Lord Bailey of Paddington regarding points raised regarding